FEMA REMAINS COMMITTED TO RECOVERY FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE RITA
LAKE CHARLES, La. — Here is an update of federal and state agency accomplishments in the six months since Hurricane Rita hit the parishes of Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, De Soto, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, St. Landry, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion, and Vernon. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) remains committed to long-term hurricane recovery efforts in partnership with the State of Louisiana.
Although devastated by Hurricane Rita, making landfall as a Category 3 storm, many strides have been made by residents of these communities who are on the “road to recovery.” One of the most intense hurricanes ever recorded during the Atlantic Hurricane Season, Rita intensified to a Category 5 storm while in the Gulf Coast, before making landfall. Rita made landfall on Sept. 24.The following recovery information recounts the significant progress that has been made through FEMA’s plethora of disaster assistance programs.
$ 526 million
To date, more than $526 million has been paid out under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to policyholders in Southwest Louisiana. On average, only 49 percent of those eligible to buy flood insurance nation-wide do so; in the South, 61 percent of the eligible homeowners had purchased the needed insurance. These dollars represent claims covered by the premium payments collected for the NFIP policies paid annually to protect assets in the event of a flooding event. More than 385,000 Louisianans currently hold these policies, with an average coverage of $139,000.
$ 403 million
FEMA has issued 160,926 housing assistance checks, totaling nearly $403 million. This assistance assures that those whose homes have been damaged by disaster have a safe place to live.
$ 198 million
More than $198 million in federal dollars has been obligated for 1,783 Public Assistance projects, such as debris removal and emergency services. FEMA awards grants to assist state and local governments and certain private non-profit entities with the response to and recovery from the disaster. The program provides assistance for debris removal, implementation of emergency protective measures, and the restoration of infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions.
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Rita By the Numbers—2-April 14, 2006
$ 94 million
More than $94 million has been approved for 52,902 Hurricane Rita applicants for Other Needs Assistance. The program provides assistance for serious, disaster-related needs to impacted individuals and provides financial assistance to individuals and households who have other disaster-related necessary expenses, such as: medical, dental, funeral, personal property, transportation, and moving/storage, or serious needs that do not qualify for a low interest loan from SBA.
$ 76 million
For homeowners and renters, the SBA has approved a total of 1,592 disaster loans, totaling over $76 million. These loans provide the funds needed following the disaster to assist individuals return their homes and possessions to pre-disaster conditions.
$ 49.5 million
The U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 659 business disaster assistance loans totaling $49.5 million. These loans assist businesses to recover and rebuild following the disaster.
$ 8.8 million
FEMA has approved $8.8 million in Community Disaster Loans (CDL) to help keep essential services online in communities hardest hit by Rita. CDLs provide operational funding to help local governments that have incurred a significant loss in revenue due to the disaster. These loans are made to local governments in need of financial assistance to perform essential services such as law enforcement and fire services.
$ 8.8 million
FEMA has approved more than $8.8 million in disaster unemployment assistance for 9,881 eligible victims of Hurricane Rita. On March 6, President Bush signed legislation, which extends these benefits an additional 13 weeks—until June 24—to Louisiana residents and displaced evacuees who are unemployed because of Hurricane Rita. Disaster Unemployment Assistance is traditionally available for a period of up to 26 weeks from the disaster declaration date.
273,752
More than 273,752 visits have been made to FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC’s). These are one-stop information centers where victims can learn more about different types of state and federal disaster assistance.
260,803
FEMA has completed 260,803 housing inspections. Inspectors check for structural soundness to assure safe occupancy. These inspections also provide the information used to determine an applicant’s eligibility for temporary housing and the Other Needs Assistance program.
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Rita By the Numbers—3-April 14, 2006
15,847
At present, 15, 847 travel trailers and mobile homes are temporary homes for hurricane victims. This number represents temporary housing provided to applicants while they are working on permanent housing solutions. Qualified applicants are eligible to receive such temporary housing in one of 3 locations: a commercial site which is leased by FEMA, a group site developed by FEMA or a travel trailer may be placed on an individual’s private property when certain rules and regulations are satisfied. In this instance, homeowners who are rebuilding have the convenience of continuing to live on their own property while repairs are being made to their home.
1,980
In addition to household debris removal from rights-of-way, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has cleared debris from 1,980 residential properties impacted by Rita under a FEMA-funded mission assignment. This cleanup has contributed to the environmental, health and safety recovery of the community. The USACE coordinated work in cases where impacted local governments were in need of federal assistance in arranging for the work to be done.
107
As a result of Hurricane Rita, FEMA has employed approximately 107 residents of the affected parishes. Serving in various roles, these employees, who have also been victims of Hurricane Rita, have contributed a unique perspective to the recovery effort. Additionally, this has given FEMA the opportunity to contribute to the economy of this devastated region.
57
To date, 57 vessels have been removed by the U.S. Coast Guard, under a FEMA-funded mission assignment. These wrecked vessels, which have been removed and salvaged, will no longer pose a health or safety threat from environmental pollution or impaired navigation.
Coy & Bill will be returning home from Louisiana (Hurricane Rita) after over a seven month deployment.
Let's see; got my camera, got my binoculars. What am I missing? Oh yea, a fishing pole! 
Just so you don't think I was kidding about fishing for sharks. 
We took a trip to Galveston on our last weekend in Louisiana. Chris took us to do some shark fishing. Well, everyone else caught one but us. Guess it wasn't our day. As the sun set, we left to go do other things.
Here is a satellite picture of Hurricane Rita. Rather Impressive. 
Here I am at the AFO, representing Community Relations for Gil's visit. He made an inspection tour of the AFO and the entire gulf region as the director of operations. 
Unfortunately, hurricane seasons starts on 1 June.
Community Relations set up displays and information for the storm preparedness at the Lake Charles Flower & Garden Show and the DeQuincy RR festival.
